Young Cavs have been tied or leading entering fourth quarter in 18 games, but have won only half of them -- plus one other game. Former Ohio Stater and first overall draft pick Oden has had career sidetracked by injuries. More Cavaliers story links.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers return from their 1-4 Western road trip to host the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night.
The Cavaliers are 10-32, one game beyond the mid-point of the 82-game schedule. Boston is 20-19 going into its game tonight against the Pistons in Detroit.
Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Cavaliers coverage includes Mary Schmitt Boyer's game story on the Cavaliers' 109-98 loss to the Jazz in Utah on Saturday night; Schmitt Boyer's take on the first half of the Cavs' season and what the team hopes to accomplish the rest of the way; Schmitt Boyer's Cleveland Cavaliers Insider, featuring guard-forward C.J. Miles; numerous other stories and reports.
The Cavs win-loss record is second worst in the NBA, better than only the Washington Wizards' 8-30.
Jason Lloyd writes for the Akron Beacon Journal that the Cavs' youth and late-game struggles are key factors in the team's losing trend (referring to former Cavs Antawn Jamison and Anthony Parker):
Cavaliers story linksThe Cavaliers knew when they assembled this roster that this was one of the risks. Anderson Varejao, Daniel Gibson and Luke Walton remain the veteran leaders, but none is as vocal as Jamison and none is that fatherly mentor that Parker was last season. But the Cavs didn’t want to sign a veteran just to sign one. They were committed to playing the youngsters and were concerned how a veteran new to the organization and nearing the end of his career would fit, knowing minutes weren’t going to be plentiful.
Scott isn’t regretting that decision now, only acknowledging that the voids left by Jamison and Parker haven’t been appropriately filled.
“I still think we’re doing it the right way,” he said. “We’re going to bite the bullet here a little and take our lumps, but I still think we’re doing it the right way.”
The Cavs have been tied or leading entering the fourth quarter in 18 games this season, but they’ve won only half of them, according to Elias Sports. If they won just five more of those, they would be 10th in the East and competing for the final playoff spot.
Instead, they’re still among the worst in the league.
The Cavaliers are reportedly among the teams interested in signing former Ohio State center Greg Oden, whose NBA career has been sidetracked by a series of injuries. (By Sam Amico, FoxSportsOhio.com)
Cleveland Benedictine High School graduate Rich Paul, LeBron James' agent, has teamed with respected Cleveland agent Mark Termini. Paul has maintained a solid working relationship with the Cavs. (By Bob Finnan, News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal)
Breaking down the Cavs' loss to the Jazz, and commentary. (By Tom Pestak, Cavs: The Blog)
Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving should be named to the Eastern Conference all-star team as a reserve. (By Tom Ziller, SBNation.com)
Analysis of some Cavs' stats halfway through the season. (WaitingForNextYear)
Should the Cavs keep center Anderson Varejao -- currently sidelined after having surgery on his right quad -- or trade him? (Bleacher Report)
The Cavs wouldn't have much to lose in taking a chance on Greg Oden, who hasn't played in a game for more than three years. (By Nick Mancini, Stepien Rules)